Morane-Saulnier MS.603

Morane-Saulnier MS.603
The MS.603 at Saint-Cyr-l'École near Paris in May 1957 when operated by the Aero Club de Courbevoie
Role club aircraft
National origin France
Manufacturer Morane Saulnier
Status stored in a museum in France
Primary user aero clubs
Number built 3
Developed from MS.600

The Morane-Saulnier MS.603 was a French-built two-seat light aircraft of the late 1940s.

Design and development

The MS.603 was one of three aircraft constructed in the MS.600 series which were built to compete in an officially-sponsored 1947 contest for a light two-seat side-by-side club aircraft to be powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) engine.

The initial MS.600, powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) Mathis G-4F piston engine, was a fixed gear, low-winged monoplane of mixed construction, with a single fin and the tailplane set just above the fuselage and a clear perspex canopy over a side-by-side cockpit for two persons. All three aircraft, MS.600, MS.602 and MS.603, were ready for flight in 1947 with the MS.600 flying on 4 June 1947.[1]

A parallel development, the MS.602, powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) Minie 4DA piston engine, was similar in most respects to the MS.600 and flew on 24 June 1947.[2]

The MS.602 at Saint-Cyr-l'École in 1957

A more powerful derivative emerged as the MS.603, powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Hirth HM 504A-2 engine and fitted with a fixed tricycle undercarriage.[3] The tailplane was also moved to a high set position on the fin and supported by struts.

Operational history

Initially registered F-WCZU in the experimental series, and re-registered F-PHQY in the amateur-operated series, the MS.602 was owned by Messieurs Gambi and Chanson and based at Saint-Cyr-l'École airfield to the west of Paris.[4] By 1983, the aircraft had been withdrawn from service and scrapped.

Map showing the position of Saint-Cyr-l'École

The sole MS.603, construction No. 1, was initially registered F-WCZT and later re-registered F-PHJC. It was flown for many years by the Aero Club de Courbevoie. By 1963 it was operated by M. Jean Forster, based at Guyancourt airfield,[5] but was withdrawn from use by 2006 when it was stored at the Musee de l'Aviation du Mas Palegry - (Mas Palegry Aviation Museum) near Perpignan.[6]

Variants

MS.600
The initial prototype powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) Mathis G-4F piston engine. One built.
MS.602
The derivative intended for production. The MS.602 was powered by a 75 hp (56 kW) Minie 4DA piston engine, but otherwiswe similar to the MS.600. One built.
MS.603
The final derivative with tricycle undercarriage was powered by a 100 hp (75 kW) Hirth HM 504A-2 engine and had a revised tail unit. One built.

Specifications (MS.603)

Data from Green, 1965

General characteristics

Performance

Notes

  1. ↑ Simpson, 2005, p.17
  2. ↑ Simpson, 2005, p.17
  3. ↑ Green, 1965 p.55
  4. ↑ Butler, 1964, p.110
  5. ↑ Butler, 1964, p. 118
  6. ↑ Ogden, 2006, p.149

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morane-Saulnier.
  • Butler, P.H. (1964). French Civil Aircraft Register. Merseyside Society of Aviation Enthusiasts. 
  • Green, William (1965). The Aircraft of the World. Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd. 
  • Ogden, Bob (2006). Aviation Museums and Collections of Mainland Europe. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-375-7. 
  • Simpson, Rod (2005). The General Aviation Handbook. Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-222-5. 
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